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Advice given after a ‘Ukash’ voucher
scam

Police are reissuing advice after a number of incidents in
Dacorum where residents were the victims of a scam, which has
already seen other victims in Hertfordshire conned.

In the latest incidents, one of the victims was conned out of
thousands of pounds. Other incidents are known to have occurred in
Royston, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon and Hatfield.

The victims, who are often elderly, are told that they are owed
large sums of money through a PPI claim or a loan agreement. People
are being told that their claim/loan is settled but in order to
release the money they need to pay an admin fee, ordinarily by
Ukash vouchers at local shops and Post Offices.

Ukash vouchers are usually used to buy goods online at vast
number of online shops.

Six incidents have occurred in Dacorum since the beginning of
April with people purchasing vouchers ranging from £58 to £2250.
The victims have been aged between 21 and 80 years old.

After the victim buys the vouchers they are asked to call the
scammers back to give them the voucher number and receipt number.
The fraudsters then take down the Ukash voucher number on the phone
and the victim never receives the money. The vouchers are most
often used at international web sites where the funds cannot be
traced.

As soon as the purchaser has these details it is as good as
giving the scammer cash.

Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins said: “We need to ensure
people are aware of this scam to prevent any more people parting
with their money. So far we have had six reports in Dacorum,
however it is likely there are probably many more people out there
who do not realise they have been scammed.

“It is often elderly people who are targeted because they tend
to be more trusting. I would like to highlight this scam to people
and ask them to make their elderly relatives and friends aware of
this.

“I’d also ask anyone who receives a call of this nature or who
believes they have been a victim, to contact police as soon as
possible via the non-emergency number, 101.”

More information about Ukash Vouchers:

Ukash can be used online instead of a credit card using the
voucher number. These vouchers are available in stores which
display signs such as epay, paypoint, payzone. Each voucher
is worth the amount of money it is purchased for, there are no
extra fees. A Ukash voucher can be used in different ways; the
voucher value can be spent online to buy goods and services on
websites where Ukash is accepted. Vouchers can also be used
to load value into an e-wallet or prepaid card, including a
personal Ukash NEO card, which allows the user to spend money
wherever MasterCard is accepted.